Automobile theftproof device



H. D. GEYER UTOMOBILE THEFTPROOF DEVICE March 22 1927.

Filed Fs. 15. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 22 1927. 1,622,14

H. D. GEYER AUTOMOBILE THEFTPROOF DEVICE Filed Feb. l5. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 3/*`Q /00 {Urfa/f 5 30*- H-ff lli 1 0 u 5 l 1 l r I sg ,o

LL m 32 75 I 7 l l 7577 7! Pan-11ndI Mar. z2, 1927.

UNITED STATES .A 1,622,141 PATENT OFFICE.

HARVEY D. GEYER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB T GENERAL MOTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

AUTOMOBILE THEFTIROOF DEVICE.y

application inea February 1s, 1924.. serial No. 692,490. i

This invention relates to a means for protecting an ele'ctric conductor against tampering therewith by unauthorized -persons and is especially adapted to protect the ignition system of an automotive vehicle. to

preventV a thief from tappingon to the primary ignition circuit between the timer and the ignition switch.

An object of this invention is to protect l0 an electric conductor' by means which if pierced will sto or alter the normal operation of the device associated with said conductor.

yAnother object is to protect the portion of 'l5 the rimary ignition circuit of an 'internal com ustion engine extendingr between the f ignition timer and a lock switch located at a distance therefrom., whereby-a thief cannot tap onto said circuit and thus .overcome the protection afforded bythe lock switch.

Another object isl to protect the ignition timer' by a protective coveringy which nay be locked a inst removal from said timer2 the same loc ing means also locking the timer unit from removal from the engine.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, wherein a' preferr'ed form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view taken along line 1-1 of Fig. 4 showing.- the timer mechanism for an internal combustion engine..

Fig.v 2 is an elevation, partly broken away to show interior mechanism, of the Bourdon spring unit with its cover removed and which is adapted to be secured to thetop of li s aid timer unit as shown in Fig. `4.

Fig. 3 is a top view .of the part shown in Fig. 2 but shows a section lthrough the pressure conduit connectors.

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly broken away 4e to show interior construction, of the assemnbled .timer unit, Bourdon spring unit and e distributor:head assembledupon the en ne.

Fig. 5 is a top view looking down on ig. 4-with the distributor head removed.

Fig. 6 shows a section through the switch ters refer to similar parts throughout thei ,several views.

`40,` which is rigidly secu to c l In Fig. 1 numeral 10 designates the housing for the timer unit which includes the shaft 11 driven by the engine for driving the cam 12. A cam follower 13 is rigidly secured to the arm 14 pivoted at 15 and is held against the cam 12l by the bent spring 16 whlch presses upon arm 14 in the direction of the arrow. Spring 16 has its opposite end rigidly anchored to the stationary clip 18 which Vin turn is rigidl secured to the nngrounded terminal 19 oft e condenser 20. As the follower 13 rides over the humps on cam 12 the movable breaker point 21 contacts and breaks contact with the stationary and grounded point 22 as will be clear from the drawings. These breaker points 21 and 22 make and break the ignition primary circuit and so vcause a spark in the high tension circuit of the spark coil in the very well known manner and hence the spark coil and high tension circuits have not.

been completely illustrated in the drawings.

A protective housing` 30 preferably made of hardened steel fits over and is fastened upon the top of the housing 10 by means of the bolts 31. Preferably the housing 30 is .provided with a depending annular flange 32 which tits snugly inside of the housing 10 and so protects the parts of the timer mechanism from being tapped lby a thief by drilling through the housing 10 (see Fig. 4 A

Bourdon spring 35 is enclosed by an held rigidly fixed at one end within housing 30 by the connectors 36 and 37 which screw tightly together against the side wall of housing 30. The outer end of the spring 35 is provided with a forked clip 38 of suitable insulating material which is. riveted to a metal clip 29 fixed to spring` 35. This clip 38 moves to the dotted position 38 shown in Fig. 3 when pressure is ap lied to the interior of the 'Ispnng 35 as will hereinbelow described. e live side of Ithe ignition primary circuit leads from the breaker int 21 through arm 14 and spring 16 to chp 18. thencethrough the upwardl prolectingpin -p 18 and clears the sides of the hole 41, to the connecting lead 42 which leads to the insulated post 43 inthe end of connector 36. The in 40 is provided with a' loose collar 45 which when spring 35 is in the position shownI in Figs. 2 and 3 will'be pressed b spring 44 against the edges of hole 41 us. makin ground contact to the live side of the ign;11lo`.v

tion primary circuitrand therefore rendering the breaker points 21 and 22 inoperative `to affect said primary circuit. However vwhen air pressure is lapplied to the interior of spring it bends to the position shown by dotted lines 35 at which position the forked clip 38 rests under andholds the loose col-lar in the dotted position 45 A'(sce-Fig. 2)..

Since the clip 38 is of non-conductin material and hence electrically insulate from spring 35 itl will be clear that the ignition primary circuit willl then be completely insulated fromy the breaker point 21 to the post 43. f

The primary circuit leads from post 43` to the lock switch ordinarily located onthe linstrument board of the automotive vehicle and from saidswitch 50 to the 'spark coil vand battery or other current producing means, all in a manner wellunderstood in the art. 'This invention providesa protec tive -pressure conduit 51 which encloses the electrical.conductor 52 throughout its passage from a point within the protective hous` 30 to a point within the protective switch ook casing 50. Fig. 3 shows clearly one form of means for connecting the electrical conductor 52 to post 43 and the pres- -sure conduit 51 with the interior ofthe pressure spring 35 without grounding the primary ignition circuit. The electrical circuit passes through the insulated lwire 52 to the terminal 53 held in conduit 51 by the insulation plug 54. This terminal 53 bears u pon the end of'the sprin pressed sleeve 59 riding on the post 55 wit which the screw binding post 43 connects. The pressure in conduit 51, which preferably isla drawn copl per tube, connects with the interior of spring 35 through the passages 56, 57 and 58 as -will be clear from viewing Fi 3. The pressure conduit is provided wit p a union Joint whereby the conduit 51 and its wire 52 I may be easily disconnected from the housing l the'swtch'lock 50. .The union joint 60' for" 30 to facilitate assembling the mechanism upon the engine and vehicle.

Fig. 6 shows the interior construction o connecting conduit 51 to the casting 61 ma be similar and eferably is identical wit the union' 6U sho in Fig; 3. The ressure in conduit 515 connects with the air tight chamber 62 through a passage in member 61,

I `the wire 52 also passing therethrough and connecting with the insulated contact post 63 in partition 64 The contact post 65 isoonnected by a 'wire 66 with the insulated external binding post 67 to which the wire leading from the'spark coil guet sho Nn) is connected. The contact arm 0 is rotatable by the barrel lock l to make contact betw posts 63 and 65 and thus establish the primar ignition circuit' from` the external h p. h the wire 52 to the b l.

so as to move-'arm 70. out of contact with posts 63V and 65 thel primary-circuit will be broken. The pressure conduit has all its connectionsv at both ends sealed air tight to withstand a high pressure, preferably about pounds per squareinch. This pressure may be set up within. the conduit through a nary tire valve, or by any other suitable valve. l

, .The operation of this protective device. is as follows: When the'ignition switch ff() is turned olf and the key 7 2 withdrawn a thief may attemptA to tap onto conductor 52 leading from the timer housing in' order to conneet up the y rimary circuit through` the breaker pointsy 2l and 22. But since conductor 52 is entirely enclosed by high pressure in conduit 51 'any such attempt `will `necessarily release .this pressure, which release will cause the Bourdon s rinf 35 to,

Q valve and valve stem 75 similar to the ordi-l move to the position shown in ull lines im v Figs. 2 and 3, thus permitting spring 44 to move loose collar 45 into electrical contact with the housing 30 and thus ground the contact point 21 rendering the breaker points entirely inoperative. l? again apply pressure to the closed conduit 51 the fork 38 on spring 35 in again' moving to the dotted position of Fig. 3 will pass above collar 45 and hence canhave no eect in raising collar45 from its grounded position. The-collar 45 rests lwithina countersunk recess 34 to prevent` the thief from raising it by any means-which' may be inserted through a small hole in the vhousing 30. It will be clear that the Ypressure system protects the rimary circuit from ,a

point well within t e protective housing 30,l

namely post 43, to a point Vwell within the prf ective housing 50, namely post 63. Both of these protective casings, are preferably hardencdto resist drilling. .1

the thief should The protective casing 30 is provided with a removable cover 80 which ts` snugly within Athe top of housing 30 and is looked there oli-by the key lock 81 which is rovided with a rotatable member 82 movab within slot '83 in bolt 31. The cover 8G is also provided with thev projecting portion Y 85 which extends over the head 86 of the 4hold down bolt 87serewed into a part 93 integral with the engine whichholt prevents the upward withdrawal of the entire timer unit fromthe engine. It is thus clear that when lock 81 is locked the bolts 31 cannot be removed nor can the bolt 87 be removed, hence all the parts are'locked in position. The projection 85 is provided with'an clon ated slot 88 and the arm 90'is provided wit a similar elongated slot 891th perm-1t the timer unit to, be rotated about its laxisby' lever 81 for.. ad-

vancing and retarding the timerin the usual `marmer A spring prossimiy slidingcollarf-92 on bolt 87 pes upon the arm 90 kand thm provides suiicient friction to hold the timer unit 'in any position to which `it is rotated by arm 91.

The bolt 87 is preferably covered with a hardened easily rotatable sleeve 95 to protect bolt 87 from being sawed or cut into by a thief. If the thief attempts to break bolt .87 off at its base the weakened sections 96 and 97 in the sleeve 95 aiid bolt 87 will cause these parts to break at these points. The spherical head 98 will then be impossible to hold with any tool for unscrewing the base of bolt 87. -lireferably the cover is held down on the housing 30 on botli sides of the projection by two lugs 100 which enter the slots 101 in the cover 80 as clearlyshown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The distributor head 105 fits above housing 30 and is clamped thereon by the spring clamps 106 in the ordinary manner. The revolving distributor arm 107 is driven by shaft 11 through the short shaft-extension 108 extendin through the housing 30 and. having suita le bearing therein.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein is such as can be made as an accessory and applied to the I present form of timerand distributor units,

the .rticular one shown being that for a Buio automobile. However, a timer and distributor unit may be specially designed to embody this invention and thus reduce the size and number of parts required. For instance,'the"housings 10 and v30 may be integral, or the timer housing 10 may be slightly enlarged land the Bourdon spring 35 and its cooperating parts housed therein thus greatly reducing the size of the entire unit.

While the form of embodiment of the present `invention as herein disclosed, con-- stit'utes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims .which follow. I

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In combination with an internal combastion engine'havi an i nition primary circuit and a timernir ma ing and breaking said ignitionA rima circuit, an electric switch for sai ignition circuit located 'at a distance from said timer, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor between said switch and timer and having fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric therein, and means associated with said timer and operable by a change of pressure iii saidcond uit to render` the ignition 'system inoperative.

2. In combination with an internal comf the timer switch and confining -fluid under a different .degree of pressure from the surrounding atmosphere, and means.

operable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render the ignition system inoperative.

3. In combination with .an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a timer therefor located in an inaccessible position, an ignition circuit leading from said timer through an accessible location and having a switch therefor located in an inaccessible position, aconduit enclos- .ing the circuit conductor throughout its passage through the accessible location and confining fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means operable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render the ignition system inoperative.

4. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system.

and a timer therefor, an ignition circuit leading 'from said timer and having a switch located at a distance from said timei', a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor between the timer and switch and confining fluid under a different degree of pressure from f the surrounding atmosphere, and means associated with said timer and operable by a.

change of pressure in said conduit to render;`

' 95 5. In combination with an internal coin-v bustion engine having an ignition lsysteml the ignition system inoperative.

` the vcircuit conductor throu hout its passageV through the aecessible'location and confining fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means associated with said timer and o er'able by a change of pressure in said con uit-to render the ignition system inoperative. A

46. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a timer therefor located in an inaccessible position, an ignition' circuit leading from said timer through an accessible location and having a switch therefor located in an inaccesible position, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor throughout its passage through the accessible location and coniining .fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means loca'ted in an inaccessible position und operable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render the ignition system inoperative.

7. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a timer therefor located in an inaccea...Y sible position, an ignition circuit leadi'n'g'gj,l

from said timer through an accessible loca-` tion and having a switch therefor located in an inaccessible, position, a conduit enclosing'- los i iso the circuit conductor throughout its passage through the accessible location and confining fluid` under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means operable by a changel of pressure in said conduit to render said engine inoperative.

8. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a timer therefor driven by said engine, a protective casing around said timer, an ignition circuit leading from said timer and havinga switch Qtherein located at a distance from said casing, a protective casing about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pressure differcnt from atmospheric, and means operable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render the ignition systempinoperative.

9. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system` and a timer'therefor driven by said engine,

` a protective casing around said timer, an

ignition circuit leading from said time-r and having a switch therein located at a distance from said casing, a protective casing about said switch a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric,and means associated with said timer and operable by a change of. pressure in said conduit to render the ignition system inoperative. s

10. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a timer therefor driven bylsaid engine, a protective casing around said timer, an ignition circuit leading 'from said timer and having a switch therein located ata distance from said casing, a protective casing about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and lmeans located in an inaccessible position and-o erable by a change of pressure in said con uit to render the ignition s stem inoperative.H

y11. In com inationwith an internal combustion engine having an i ition systemI riven and a timer therefor y said engine, a protective casin around-said timer, an ignition circuit lea ing from said timer and having a switch therein located at a distance from said casing, a rotective casing about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pressure difierent from atmospheric, and means located in said timer protective casing andl operable by 2- Clange of ressure in said conduit to render the ignition .system inoperative.

12. In combination with an internal cornbustion engine havin an i ition system anda timer'therefor driven g; said engine, a protective casing around said timer, an

'render said engine inoperative.

18. In `combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a timer therefor driven by said engine, a protective casing around said timer,'an ignition circuit leading from said timer and having a switch therein located at a distance from saidcasing, a protective casing -about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means associated with said timer and operable'by a chan e of pressure in said conduit to render sai engine inoperative. v

'14. In combination with an internal combustion engine havinganl ignition system 'and a timer therefor driven by'said engine, a protective casing around said timer, an ignition circuit leading from said timer and .having a switch therein located at a'distance from said casing, a protective casing about said switch, al conduit enclosing the circuit conductor between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means located in an inaccessible position and operable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render said engine inoperative.

15. In combination with an internal conlbustion engine having an i ition system and a t:mer therefor dr1ven y said engine, a

protective casing around said timer, anignition circuit leading` from said timer and having a switch therein located at a distance fronf. said casing, a protective casing about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor `between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means located in said timer protectivey casing and operable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render said engine inoperative.

16. In combination with aninternal combustion engine having an ignition system and a timer therefor driven by said enginea protective casing around Vsaid timer, an ignition circuitJeading from said timer and having a switch therein, a locktor said confining fluid". under'\ay pressure derent man atmospheriajand means operable by a change of pressure in ,said conduit to render the ignition s -stem inoperative.

17. In com mation with an internal combust-ion en ine having ani ition system and a timer t erefor driven y said engine, a protective casing around said timer, an ignition circuit leading form said timer and having a` switch therein, a lock for said switch, a protective casing about said switch, a closed conduit enclosin the circuit conductor between said protective casings and conf'ining fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means protected by said timer casing and operable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render the ignition system inoperative.

18. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and apart driven by the engine for producing the ignition spark, a protective casing around said part, an ignition circuit leading from within said casing and having a switch for said circuit located at a dist-ance from said casing, a protective casing about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor throughout its length between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means operatie by a change of pressure in said conduit te render said ignition system inoperative. f

l19. ln combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a part driven by the engine for producing the ignition spark, a protective casing around said part, an ignition circuit leading from within said casing and having a switch for said circuit located ata distance from said casing, a protective casing about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor throughout its len th between said protective casings and con ning iuid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means located in said first-protective casing and o erable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render said ignition system inoperative.

20. In combination with an internal combastion engine having an ignition system and a part driven by the engine for producing the i nition spark, a protective casing aroun said part, an ignition circuit leading from within 4said casing and having a, switch for said circuit located at a distance from said casing, a protective casing about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor throughout its length between said protective casings and confiining fiuid under a pressure different from atmospheric, and means associated wth said driven part and operable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render said ignition system inoperative.

21. In combination with an internal combustion engine having an ignition system and a part driven by the engine for producing the ignition spark, a protective casing around said part, an ignition circuit leading from within said casing and having a switch for said circuit located at a distance from said casing, a protective casing about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor throughout its length between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pres sure different from atomspheric, and means operable by a change of pressure in said conduit to render said engine inoperative.

22. In combination with an internal combustion .engine having an ignition system and a. part driven by the engine for producing the ignition spark, a protective casing around said part, :i i i nition circuit leading from within said c ing and having a switch for said circuit located at a distance from said casing, a protective casing about said switch, a conduit enclosing the circuit conductor throughout its length between said protective casings and confining fluid under a pressure different rom'atmospheric, and means associated with said driven part and operable by a change' of pressure in said conduit to render said engine inoperative. 23. In combination with van internal combustion engine, an 'electric circuit, means associated with said circuit for rendering said vengine ,operative or inoperative at the will of theoperator, a protective conduit enclosing a portion of the circuit conductor and confining a fluid under a pressure different from atmosphericQand means operable by a change of pressurein said conduit to'render said engine inoperative.

In testimony whereof'I hereto afiix my signature.

HARVEY D. GEYER. 

